Narberth Rugby Club has imposed a 12-month ban on a debenture holder member, who will be unable to apply for Welsh rugby international tickets during that period. The ban was imposed on Monday, when the club's management committee met to consider what action to take after tickets issued by the club to a debenture holder on behalf of the WRU had been offered for sale on the e-Bay internet auction site. After that meeting, club secretary Brian Toms made the following announcement: "We have decided to revoke the member's privilege to apply for international tickets for a 12-month period in accordance with the club's ticket allocation policy. The tickets for every Wales home international match taking place until November 1, 2006, will come back to the club for re-allocation to other members. The member has accepted the club's decision and will not exercise his right to make formal representations to the management committee on this decision." This action was taken after Narberth Rugby Club had recovered the SANZAR rugby international tickets for the New Zealand and South African matches, which were offered for sale on e-Bay by a club member, who is also a WRU debenture holder. In an earlier statement, Brian Toms had said: "As a club, we are very disappointed that the rules have been flouted as when tickets were issued, each member who received a SANZAR ticket was reminded that 'tickets must not be sold on to other people, as the WRU are closely scrutinising the tickets allocated to clubs and sanctions may be imposed on a club, if members are caught selling on to others'." Brian Toms added: "Every member who applies for international rugby tickets uses an application form from the membership booklet. The first condition of sale set out in that booklet states that 'tickets are allocated for personal use of members and must not be re-sold or issued to other persons. Members abusing this rule will not be considered for future tickets for a period of 12 months'." The investigation and disciplinary action taken by the Narberth club followed the naming of the Pembrokeshire club by the Welsh Rugby Union under its 'naming and shaming policy'. It is understood that the member had passed on his debenture tickets to a relative and that the relative had advertised the tickets for sale on the e-Bay internet site. The club member who received the tickets is embarrassed about the situation and shares the club's concern about the abuse of the rules. In an earlier statement, Brian Toms had also said: "We are also very disappointed that the WRU has not contacted us in this matter as we have had to work on third party information to establish the facts."
